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There are many high quality types of connectors available nowadays for use with battery packs for model airplanes,
helicopters, boats, and cars. A wide range of current handling capacities are required depending on the demands
of electric power setups. Smaller park flyer types only might need connectors and wires that can handle 10 amps,
whereas larger scale models and 3D helicopters can easily need more than 100 amps for acceptable performance.
Connector failure is often the culprit in crashes due to inappropriate contact ratings. It is well worth your
investment in time to research and implement proper connector usage considering the time and money invested in
your model.
Specifications used for the following table were obtained from the suppliers. When making your selection, always
add in a safety margin of at least 10%. For example if your application will draw a continuous current of 55 amps,
then it would be best to use a connector rated at 60 amps or greater. Note: Connector images are not to scale.
Castle 4mm & 6.5mm |
75 A
200 A |
13 AWG 6 AWG |
E-flite EC3 & EC5 |
60 A
120 A |
12 AWG 10 AWG |
Deans Ultra |
50 A |
12 AWG |
Sermos Power Poles (APP) |
15 A
30 A,
45 A |
13 AWG 13 AWG 13 AWG |
HXT 4mm & 6mm |
70 A |
12 AWG |
JST |
8 A |
20 AWG |
XT-60 |
65 A |
12 AWG |
Caveat: Be careful when buying these connectors from unknown discount suppliers because often
they are cheaply constructed imitations that will not hold up to operational conditions claimed by the original
manufacturers.
Posted June 28, 2015
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